Thursday, June 9, 2011

Casa Batlló - Antoni Gaudí

If you're into history and architecture, then visiting Barcelona would meant visiting the works of Antoni Gaudí.




A prominent Spanish Catalan architect that raved through Barcelona during his lifetime from the late 1800s till his death at 1926. Much of it out of controversy due to his modernism perspective that was difficult to swallow in those times; and much of it out of adoration today.

He was so great, seven of his works were classified UNESCO World Heritage Sites; many even named him the God's Architect, during and after his time.

During my visit to Barcelona, I've visited a total of four of his great works. And decided to split all of them into individual post instead of posting them altogether in one.

It would one too many to absord if so.

casa batllo


Casa Batlló was a house renovated in the early 1900s by Gaudí and his assistant for a middle-class family. Keep in mind that in Europe, middle-classes were rather wealthy people, just not of aristocracy or landed gentry. Hence you'll find the residential house situated in a populous district of Barcelona, even back in the days.

casa batllo barcelona


The first impression of this house was that the design's focus was to stay out of straight line. The whole building was curvy, and inspired heavily by bone structure of animals.

casa batllo map
as you can see in building layout


My aim in all of these four posts (including this one) is not to lecture, but to allow you to enjoy the works of Antoni Gaudí in his time (a whole century ago) through some of my photos. You'll be surprised at the modernism in his designs.

curvy windows


But first, I would have to pay 16.50 euro for the entrance fee.

entrance fee to casa batllo
sigh, gone were my student days.


door


staircase


stairs


sitting place
fire place and sitting "chamber"


chandelier


light
ceiling encircling the centre light.


living room


window to barcelona streets


beautiful chandelier
my favourite chandelier in the building


casa batllo toilet
while most household sinks still used typical oval/round shaped sinks, Gaudí has evolved into our time.


lift view up
lift view in the house


roof top door
door to backyard-roof


weird ceiling
ceiling


backview of casa batllo
view of Casa Batlló from the back (semi-roof)


stone wall
stone wall


lift
lift - heading up again


spinal_like ceiling
spinal-like top floor


light slit
light, through the "slit" of the ceiling. I would love to have this design for my house lighting next time.


chimneys
rooftop, chimneys or ventilation towers


chimneys of casa batllo


rooftop stone wall
mosaic broken ceramic tiles


spinal wall
reminds me of a chinese dragon's back


me
moi


back view
not a very pretty neighbourhood


taking photo with chimneys


tower


me and tower


view down casa batllo
lift back down


I left my signature in the guestbook before I left.

my signature
It's true. Especially the sitting chamber, the nature design reminds me a lot of that Crazy House in Dalat, Vietnam.


And that's the end of Casa Batlló.

casa batllo overview


I hope you enjoyed your tour.

(Next - a high-end condo of the 1900s by Antoni Gaudí)


View his other works here :-
Casa Milà
Park Güell and
Sagrada Familia

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